Fast Food Theft Alleged

BERLIN — A Fruitland woman was arrested on theft charges this week after allegedly swiping hundreds of dollars from a night deposit bag of an Ocean Pines fast-food restaurant.

Since the end of December, the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) has been investigating an internal employee theft at the McDonald’s on Racetrack Rd. in Ocean Pines. The investigation identified the suspect as Danielle Renee Collick, 27, of Fruitland, who allegedly stole $520 from the restaurant’s night deposit bag. During a subsequent interview, Collick admitted the theft.

Collick was arrested and charged with theft under $1,000. She was released to the custody of the Wicomico County Detention Center while awaiting a preliminary appearance in front of a District Court Commisisoner.

Shopping Carts Swiped

WEST OCEAN CITY — A West Ocean City man was arrested on theft charges last weekend after being found in possession of 10 shopping carts allegedly stolen from the Food Lion grocery store on Route 611.

Last Friday, an off-duty Maryland State Police officer received a complaint about a possible theft of 10 shopping carts belonging to Food Lion, which were discovered in the back of a pick-up truck in the Assateague Point community. MSP troopers responded to the reported address and made contact with the owner of the truck, later identified as Robert Allen Hockstad, 53, of West Ocean City, and inquired how he had obtained the shopping carts.

According to police reports, Hockstad said he had taken the carts from the Food Lion and that he had been given permission to do so by an employee. The officer then contacted the Food Lion manager, who told police no one would have given Hockstad permission to take the carts. The manager also told the officer Food Lion wanted to press charges for the thefts.

Hockstad was then arrested without further incident and charged with theft over $1,000. The value of the carts is $460 each, for a total of $4,600. Further investigation revealed Hockstad could be a suspect in additional thefts in the area and the investigation is ongoing.

Cab Fare Theft

WEST OCEAN CITY — A West Ocean City man was arrested on theft and other charges last week after allegedly failing to pay a cab driver who took him home after a fight in Ocean City and later scrapping with police.

Shortly after 11 p.m. on Oct. 20, Maryland State Police troopers were dispatched to a residence in West Ocean City for a reported theft of services. Upon arrival, troopers met with a cab driver who said he picked up the suspect, identified as Joseph Scot Pietroski, from a downtown Ocean City bar and drove him to his home in West Ocean City. According to the driver, once the cab reached Pietroski’s home, the suspect exited the vehicle and ran inside his home without paying the $9 fare.

Troopers made contact with Pietroski at his residence and he appeared extremely intoxicated and agitated, according to police reports. Pietroski told police he had been involved in a physical altercation at the downtown bar and that he wanted to go to sleep. State police troopers contacted OCPD to see if they needed Pietroski for questioning in relation to a fight or incident downtown, but the OCPD declined.

Meanwhile, troopers told Pietroski he had to pay the $9 cab fare in order to resolve the issue. At that point, Pietroski allegedly became combative and increasingly agitated with the officers and told them it was not a cab that brought him home, but rather the police. He continued to curse at the officers and became physically confrontational, at which point he was arrested for resisting arrest.

During transport to the MSP Berlin barrack, Pietroski began spitting in the patrol car and continued to be physically and verbally abusive to the point he had to be controlled with violent prisoner constraints. He continued the behavior until the time he was taken before the court commissioner. He was ultimately charged with theft, malicious destruction of property and resisting arrest.

Motel Robbery Suspect Nabbed

OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City woman was arrested on first-degree burglary and theft charges last week after resort police were able to connect her to a robbery at a motel room back in June.

Around 8 p.m. on June 16, an OCPD officer met with the victims of a reported burglary at the Sea Scape Motel on the Boardwalk at 16th Street. The victims told police they had left their room around 9 a.m., leaving their belongings behind. The returned around 7:30 p.m. and discovered a suitcase had been moved and some property was missing including a lap-top computer, a digital camera and around $450 in currency. Also missing was a cell phone.

No signs of forced entry were observed, and the investigation remained open. On October 11, a local woman, identified as Billy Jo Conner, 43, of Ocean City, was arrested for an outstanding warrant related to credit card theft. The arresting officer routinely checked the Maryland Regional Automated Property Information Database (RAPID) for any pawns Conner had made.

The RAPID system reported Conner had pawned a lap-top computer at a pawn shop in Salisbury around noon on June 16, the same day the robbery was reported at the Sea Scape. The officer was then able to determine the lap-top computer was likely the same one reported stolen in June. The investigating officer then ran a history check to see if there were any other calls for service at the motel around the same date and time.

The officer discovered Conner and her boyfriend had been staying at the motel in a room adjacent to the room where the robbery occurred. A check with motel staff revealed there had been several complaints about Conner’s room and the couple had been evicted because of all of the commotion. While the evidence certainly pointed to Conner as the suspect in the burglary, the investigating officer last week contacted the Hewlett Packard support line and confirmed the lap-top computer pawned by Conner had been registered to the victim in the robbery. Conner has been charged with first-degree burglary and theft. She was released after posting a $10,000 bond.

Fake Cocaine Arrest

OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City woman last week was arrested on an outstanding warrant for allegedly distributing and conspiring to distribute fake cocaine to an undercover OCPD narcotics officer last February.

Last Feb. 25, an OCPD narcotics officer contacted Sara Michelle Cox, 24, of Ocean City to make arrangements to purchase a gram of powder cocaine. The officer arranged to pick up Cox at her residence and drive her to the appointed time and place for the transaction. The officer then drove Cox to the Burger King on 33rd Street where she was to act as a middle man of sorts between her supplier and the undercover officer.

Cox allegedly entered the restaurant and returned a short time later with a baggie of alleged powder cocaine from her supplier and sold it to the officer for $60. According to his report, the officer was taken aback by the amount of alleged crack cocaine in the baggie, but Cox told the officer her supplier had hooked him up and had given him extra.

The undercover dropped Cox back off at her residence and later checked the contents of the baggie and determined it was fake cocaine. The officer immediately sent a text message to Cox complaining about the fake cocaine. Cox, in turn, apologized and gave the officer the phone number of the supplier. The supplier than apologized and told the officer he would make an effort to get the officer’s money back. Months later, the undercover officer last week charged Cox with distribution of fake CDS and conspiracy to distribute fake CDS.

Sneezing Attack Causes Fatal Accident

SALISBURY — One man was killed and another seriously injured this week in a single-vehicle accident on Route 50 near Walston Switch Rd. after the driver lost control during a sneezing attack.

Around 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Maryland State Police responded to a single-vehicle accident on Route 50 near Walston Switch Rd. The investigation revealed the driver of the passenger van, identified as Brian Evans, 37, of Salisbury, suffered a sneezing attack, left the roadway and collided with a tree. The van’s passenger, identified as William Brittingham, 30, was killed in the crash, and Evans was seriously injured. Evans has been charged with negligent driving.

Attempted Murder Alleged

SALISBURY — A Seaford man was arrested on attempted first-degree murder and other serious charges this week after first attempting to break into a residence before chasing a victim with a kitchen knife.

Shortly before 1 a.m. on Monday, Salisbury Police responded to a residence on Decatur Ave. for a reported burglary attempt. Officers met with a female victim, who told police a suspect, later identified as David Feliciano-Geigel, 42, of Seaford, whom she knew, had attempted to break into her residence by kicking and breaking the door.

The victim told police Feliciano-Geigel had since fled to another residence on nearby Hammond Street. The officers went to the Hammond Street residence in time to see Feliciano-Geigel chasing another victim in the yard with a kitchen knife. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident and the knife was recovered.

Feliciano-Geigel was charged with attempted first-degree murder, first- and second-degree assault, burglary, malicious destruction of property and numerous other offenses.

Church Burglary Arrest

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man was arrested last week on burglary charges after allegedly breaking into a church and stealing property.

Around 11 a.m. last Saturday, Salisbury Police responded to a church on East Church Street for a reported burglary. While en route, the officers were advised the suspect had fled the scene on foot and were provided with a description of the suspect. The officers located the suspect, later identified as Tyrone Sheppard, 45, of Salisbury, a short time later.

Sheppard was identified by witnesses at the scene. The investigation revealed Sheppard had taken property from the church, although the undisclosed property was not recovered. Sheppard was arrested and charged with second-, third- and fourth-degree burglary.

Armed Robbers Sought

SALISBURY — Wicomico County law enforcement officials this week are looking for two suspects wanted in connection with the armed robbery of a convenience store on Route 50 in Hebron last week.

Around 10:45 p.m. last Friday, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation responded to the Shore Stop on Route 50 in Hebron just west of Salisbury for a reported armed robbery. Video surveillance revealed two suspects, one of whom was brandishing a handgun, had entered the store around 10:36 p.m. The suspect carrying the gun approached the clerk and demanded money, while the second suspect stood by holding what appeared to be a tire iron.

After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, both suspects fled the scene on foot. Both suspects are believed to be white males. The first was wearing a dark ski mask and a black, knee-length coat, while the second was wearing a camouflage ski mask and dark-colored, knee-length coat. Anyone with information is urged to contact WBI at (410) 548-4898, or Crime Solvers at (410) 548-1776.

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